Method and apparatus for curing hay, alfalfa, and the like



Aug. 11, 1925.

R. E. MAUDLIN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CURING HAY, ALFALFA, AND THE LIKE Fiied Jan. 23 1924 2 Sheen-Sheet 1 gwuenlw Fir/1w f. M400; //v

Aug. 11,- 1925. 1,549,138

R. E. MAUDLIN METHOD AND APPARATUS CURING IIAY, ALFALFA, AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 23 1924 ,2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuemtoi Jim PH 5. M4 up; nv

Patented Aug. 11, 1925.

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RALPH E. MAUIJLIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD AND arranarus son CURING- HAY, ALFALFA, AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 23, 1924. Serial No. 688,028.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH E. MAUDLIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Method and Apparatus for Curing Hay, Alfalfa, and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a method and means for curing hay, alfalfa, stacked grain, et cetera, and is also applicable to threshed grain, corn and similar materials when in bins.

The objects of my invention are to provide simple, cheap and durable apparatus which can readily be applied to any of the material mentioned, but especially to hay and alfalfa during the process of stacking, which will insure a proper curing of the material by a thorough ventilation of the same throughout its mass.

I accomplish the above objects by pro viding a plurality of foraminous or perforated ventilating tubes or pipes which are placed in the material in spaced position as the stack is formed so that when the stack is completed it presents a structure honeycombed with air passages, and normally through which the wind can blow.

From the above outline it will be apparent that any kind of tubes or pipes could be used, but I prefer to use a special flexible wire skeleton tube so that it can yield to the inequalities of pressure due to the unequal distribution of material in stacking, and also so that the ends of the ventilating tubes may be bent or doubled over into the stack and hooked thereunder after the curing process has sufficiently advanced or to keep out the winter snows, and also for other reasons as will be apparent from the decription following.

One method of carrying out my invention is shown in the drawings hereto and in which Figure 1 is'a longitudinal section in elevation showing a hay or alfalfa stack with my invention applied;

Figure 2 is a similar transverse section;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the stack;

Figures 4: and 5 are approximately full size details of the side and end of one of my flexible wire mesh ventilating tubes; though the actual size depends on the use to which it is put.

.material as it is stacked in crossed relation as shown, and are preferably of several lengths so that they will ordinarily project from the sides of the stack.

Since the tubes are flexible in the form shown, the projecting ends would sag, not only outside of the stack but also near the edges within the stack, as the hay or other material is not so firm at the edge and the tubes would sag in consequence.

Such sagging would be of no great consequence, but a somewhat better air circulation would be had if the tubes projected more in a horizontal plane so that the winds blowing against the stack would force a current of air through the tubes.

To facilitate this I optionally run a stout stick, short length of pipe, or angle bar into the. open end of the tubes as indicated at (a) in Figure 6. These supports would only be left in the tubes until the stack was sufficiently cured or until the approach of the winter snows, and are then removed and the tubes bent down as shown at (5) in Figure 6 and hooked int the stack by the hook (6) extending from the tube for that purpose.

l/Vhen the tubes are thus bent down and covered with the surface material of the stack, the entrance of snow or rain is prevented yet the stack continues to be ventilated.

My preferred form of ventilating tube is shown in Figures 4 and 5 and is seen to be formed of a heavy wire spiral (2) covered by a lighter wire mesh (2).

It is desirable that the wire mesh (2) be woven in some manner around the spiral as indicated and also that it be secured at intervals to the spiral, either by interweaving, welding, or separate ties as indicated at (11). Or, since the structure should be galvanized, the galvanizing may aid or form the securing means for the mesh.

The ends of the spiral are extended into hook form as shown at (12) for the purpose mentioned.

The mesh covering (2) may be of any degree of fineness, about as shown is suitable for hay and alfalfa, but fly screen may be used for tubes to be used with grain, or even textile covering.

Also, though I prefer the heavy spiral to sustain the weight, it is evident that it could be dispensed with if the mesh (2) were woven of wire thick and strong enough tocarry the load.

Having thus described my .invention it will be seen that it comprises a system or process of curing material in stacks and bins, and the means of carrying it out, also that while I have shown a preferred form of flexible tube as being light, cheap and easily handled by the farmer, it is apparent that channels as shown can be made of metal, or wooden pipes and any such modification coming within the spirit of my invention is intended to be covered in my appended claims.

I claim:

I. The method of aerating hay, alfalfa or the like, which comprises stacking the material with ventilating channels extending therethrough and of changing the direction of the channels after suitable drying out of the stack.

2. The method of aerating hay, alfalfa or the like which comprises stacking the material with ventilating channels extending therethrough and of closing the ends of the channels with the stack material after suitable drying out of the stack.

3. A ventilating tube for a haystack or the like comprising a flexible spiral of wire with a wire mesh covering and a hook extending from one end of the tube adapted for hooking into the stack.

4. A ventilating tube for ahaystack or the like comprising a flexible spiral of wire with a wire mesh covering the same and a hook extending from each end of the tube adapted for hookinginto the stack.

5. A ventilating tube for a haystack or the like comprising a flexible spiral of wire with a wire mesh covering the same, and the ends of the spiral wire being formed each into an extended hook.

RALPH E. MAUDLIN. 

